Magnetic handler for cylindrical articles of magnetic material



Nov. 17, 1959 D. A. COLLINGS MAGNETIC HANDLER FOR CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1956 vE KEIYIrf FIG'. I

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INVENTOR. DAVID A. COLL! NGS ATTORNEY United States Patent MAGNETIC HANDLER FOR CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES on MAGNETIC MATERIAL David A. Collings, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 11, 1956, Serial No. 577,569,

Cl i -65-5) This invention pertains to the art of material handling and, more particularly, to apparatus for handling large and heavy hollow articles by means of an overhead crane or the' like.

The invention is particularly applicable to handling cylindrical coils of steel strip, or the like, and will be described with particular reference thereto although it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to the handling of other similarly shaped articles. i

In: the steel using industry, the problem has long existed in the storage and handling of steel coils; thus, they may be stored with the axis either vertical or horizontal. With coils that are stored horizontally, a hook suspended from an overhead crane is often employed to move the coils from place to place, the end, or arbor ofthe hook, being moved into the hole of the coil andthen the hook raised, the axis remaining horizontal.

When storing such coils horizontally, the problem has existed of efficient use of the storage space. It is desirable to stack the coils severalhigh in order to conserve floor space but when so stacked the weight of the coils tends to bend them egg-shaped, making them difiicult to use at a later date. Also, stacking one coil on another oftentimes mars the surfaces, rendering portions of the metal unusable. Thus the coils are usually placed in a single layer.

If a number'of 'cliiferent kinds of steel are to be stored either in single or multiple layers and still be readily available, then sufiicient space must be left-between the rows of coils to allowthehook to have access to the hole in the coil.

Provisions must alsobe made to prevent the coils from rolling and endangering employees when one coil is re moved from a pile of coils.

It is considered desirable to store the coils with their axis vertical although the problem here has been one of the diflicultyof picking up the coils. Clamps have been employed but these mar the surface of the coil and also squeeze them egg-shaped. Expanding plugs have been employed but these depend upon friction the same as the clamp and are not considered dependable or 'safe.

Further, there is the problem of moving a coilfrom a position where its axis is horizontal to a position where its axis is vertical or vice versa. Usually, it is necessary to set the coil on the ground and then mechanically change the position of the axis to that desired and then use the proper coil handling instrument. i

It was heretoforeproposed, as shown in the patent to Douglas 2,630,931, to provide a pivoted arbor with a magnet at one end, which arbor is insertedinto an axial hole of a coil, the magnet energized to hold the coil on the arbor and then the the entire assembly pivoted to any desired orientation of the axis of the coil. device the arbor is tilted and pivotally supported at a point at the end of the arbor and away from the center ofgravity of the load being tilted. Such apparatus, as

In the Douglas 2,913,276 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 unduly large motor for the tilting operation, particularly where long lengths of steel coil must be handled. Also, various diameters of coils are not readily handled.

The present invention contemplates apparatus of the general type described which is capable of handling large coils of steel strip or the like, which can pick up such coils with the axis either horizontal or vertical and change the orientation of the axis and move the coil to another position in a single operation, which is simple in con- 0 struction and which is adjustable to handle any length of a result of the present invention, appears to requirean steel coil.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided, in combination: an arbor adapted to be inserted into the arbor opening or axial hole of a steel coil or the like, means for retaining the coil on the arbor when it is in a vertical position and means for tilting the arbor about a point intermediate the ends thereof. Preferably this point should, for best operation, coincide with the center of gravity of the arbor and its load thereon.

Further, in accordance with the invention, means are provided for controlling the position the load will take on the arbor so that the center of gravity of the arbor with the load thereon, can be made to. correspond as close aspossible to the center of tilt.

The means for holding thecoil. an the arbor may beof the frictional type but is more. preferably an electric magnet spaced, from the free end of the arbor and adapted, when electrically energized, to exert amagnetic pull one coil sufficient to retain. the coil' whilethe arbor is. in the verticalposition. Means may be provided for adjustably positioning the magnet along the arbor so that the magnet thus functions as a stop to provide for positioning the coil on the arbor so: that the center of gravity of the coil and the arbor canbe made. to correspond withthe center of tilting thereof.

In the event magnet means are used for positioning and/ or retaining thecoil' on the arbor, the apparatus-may have provision for adjusting the magnet in. a transverse direction relative to the. arbor to accommodate coilsof various internal and external diameters so that coilsof light wall thickness or small diameter can be handled just as readily as a coil oflarge diameter. or heavy wall thickness.

The principal objectof the inventionis the provision of new-and improved apparatus of the general type described by which coils of steel with the axis of their arbor opening being in any orientation can be readily picked up, moved from place to place and, if desiredrhave the orientation of the axis shifted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of'a new and improved arbor arrangement for moving steel coils from place to place. and tilting the axis, from horizontal to vertical or vice versa which requires a motor of minium size to effectsuch tilting.

Another object of. theinvention is -the provision of a new and improved. apparatusfor moving steel coils'and the like, from place to place and changing the orientation of .the axisthereof, including means forproviding that the center of gravity of the steel coil will correspondv to thecenter of rotation ofthe apparatus.

Another object of'the. invention is theprovision ofa new and improved apparatus of the general type. described including an arbor tiltable froma vertical to a horizontal position, means for retaining a coil 0n the arborwhen it is in the vertical position, the center of rotation of the tiltingmovement being intermediate the ends of the arbor and, preferably, corresponding to the center of gravity of the arbor with its load thereon.

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, apreferred embodiment of which will be describedin detailin this specification and motor 22 carried by the support 14.

' apparatus, and

Figure is a cross-sectional view of Figure 3 taken approximately on the line 5-5 thereof and showing the magnet construction.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, the coil handling apparatus or device is illustrated as being suspended from an overhead crane cable and supporting a hollow article such as the coil 11 of strip steel. The coil handling device has an arcuate member 12 provided with an article or coil-engaging arbor 13 extending in a chord-like direction relative to the periphery of the arcuate member 12 and into an arbor opening in the coil 11 of strip steel. The arcuate member 12 is supported on the cable by support 14 which also supports a motor device for tilting the arbor and the coil 11 of steel.

The position of the coil 11 of strip steel on the arbor 13, or the distance of insertion of the arbor into the coil, is controlled by a magnet 15 which also serves as a control stop.

The arcuate member 12 has a flange 17 and gear teeth 18 on the peripheral edge thereof. The support 14 has wheels 19 rollingly engaging flange 17 whereby the arcuate member 12 and arbor 13 may be tilted by rolling the wheels along the flange 17. Also mounted in the support 14 is a shaft 20a having a driving gear 20 enmeshed with the gear teeth 18 for causing such tilting of the arcuate member and arbor (see Figure 4) to change the orientation of the axis of a coil on the arbor. The shaft 20a may be hand or motor powered by any suitable means, such as helical gear 2% carried by shaft 20a and enmeshed With a worm gear 21 connected to an electric In Figure 1 the arcuate member 12 is illustrated with the arbor in horizontal position supporting a coil 11. The coil 11 may be tilted to the vertical position by energizing the electric motor 22 to rotate the arcuate member 12 by rolling peripheral flange 17 over the wheels 19 until the arbor 13 is in a vertical position, through changing the orientation of the coil from a horizontal to a vertical position.

As was previously pointed out, the arbor 13 extends in a somewhat chord-like direction relative to the periphery of the member 12 and is adjusted to be inserted into coil 11. The arbor 13 is permanently secured on one end thereof to the arcuate member 12.

The magnet 15 may be constructed for positioning it radically as well as longitudinally of the arber to accommodate coils of various wall thickness or diameters. However, in this instance, the arcuate member 12 is also provided with a way 23 which extends parallel to the arbor 13, and is spaced therefrom a distance greater than the wall thickness of any coils which will be transported by the apparatus. The magnet 15 is slidably mounted on this way 23 and at least partially encircles the arbor 13 so that it may be positioned along the arbor to control the distance of insertion of the arbor into the coil so that the center of gravity of the coil falls within the arbor or between the ends thereof. The magnet 15 may be electrically energized to ensure sufiicient magnetic strength to support a coil of strip steel when the arbor is in a vertical position as illustrated in Figure 2.

In this particular instance the magnet is moved along the way 23, and thus along the arbor 13 to the correct position by a jack screw 24, a nut 25 and arms 26. The jack screw is journaled at one end thereof in the arcuate member, extends axially of the arbor 13 and terminates in a handle near the free end of the arbor. The nut 25 threa'dably engages the jack screw and slidably engages the arms 26 which are, in turn, secured to the magnet 15 and extend into the arbor.

It is understood that various devices or power means for moving the magnet 15 longitudinally along, or transversely to, the arbor may be used, such for example, a motorized mechanism, air cylinder, or fluid operated motor. When any of these devices are used they perform the same function as the jack screw arrangement; that is, to move the magnet along the arbor and relative to the arcuate member.

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view of a magnet which is capable of holding a coil on the arbor when the coil is in the vertical position of Figure 2. The magnet includes an inner wall 30 and a concentric outer wall 31 spaced apart and fastened to a cover plate 33. A ring 32 fastened to the other end of the wall 31 holds a non-magnetic cover plate 35 in position against the end of the magnet winding 34. These walls and cover plates form a housing supporting and enclosing magnet windings 34, which are of required size and shape necessary to produce sufii cient magnetic forces to lift a coil or hold it on the arbor the exact construction of the magnet and its housing per se is conventional in the magnet art and forms no part of the present invention. The inner wall 30 is next adjacent, or preferably in contact with the arbor. When the inner wall 30 is in contact with the arbor and both are constructed of magnetizable material they act as a unitary path for magnetic flux produced. The cover plate 33, the ring 32 and the outer wall 31 complete this magnetic flux path through the coil 11 (not shown in Figure 5).

The operation of the handling device is as follows: Assume a coil of strip steel 11 is lying in a horizontal position on the floor with its arbor-receiving opening extending substantially horizontal. The arbor 13 and the arcuate member 12 are positioned as illustrated in Figure 1. The handling device is lowered by means of cable 10 to a position in which the arbor 13 will enter the arbor-receiving hole in the coil 11. Next the length of the coil is gauged and the magnet 15 is moved axially along and towards the free end of the arbor 13 by turning the jack screw 24 until the length of the arbor between the free end thereof and the magnet 15 is less than the axial length of the coil. The arbor 13 is then inserted into the coil until the center of gravity of the coil is between the ends of the arbor. The coil may now be lifted and transported to another position where it may be tilted to the vertical position of Figure 2 wherein the coils axis is vertical. Motor 22 is energized to operate through worm gear 21 and driving gear 20 on the. gear teeth 18 to tilt the arbor and the coil from the horizontal position of Figure l to the vertical position of Figure 2. This changes the orientation of the axis of the coil. Since the center of gravity is between the ends of the arbor and the point of tilt is between the ends of the arbor, or preferably coinciding with the'center of gravity, very little power is needed in motor 22 to tilt the coil. In this vertical position the magnet will support the coil, providing the coil of strip material is made of magnetic material. It is understood that the coil may also be picked up from a vertical position, tilted to the horizontal position of Figure 1 and then again stored if desired.

It will be noted that during the tilting of the coil from horizontal to vertical position, or vice versa, the point of tilting of the coil is substantially in the same location as the center of gravity of the arbor and the coil and member. It is also noted that the coil is tilted around a point intermediate the ends of the arbor. Thus a much smaller motor, such as motor 22, can be used instead of the large heavy motor of priordevices which would have to counteract much of the weight of the coil during transporting to prevent tilting Of the coil from a horizontal to a vertical position. The support 14 is directly over and vertically above the center of gravity of the load as well as the point of tilt of the load.

The apparatus described as one of the physical forms of the invention provides an arbor adapted to be inserted into the arbor opening of a coil, means for retaining the coil on the arbor when it is in a vertical position, and means for tilting the arbor about a point intermediate the ends thereof to orient the axis of the coil. It is understood that other modifications of the details and arrangement of parts may be had which will provide the embodiment of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A handling device for handling a hollow cylindrical article and for tilting the article between a horizontal axis position and a vertical axis position, said device including an arbor adapted to be inserted into the article a distance suflicient to position the center of gravity of the article between the ends of the arbor, a stop positionable along the arbor to control said distance of insertion, and means to tilt said arbor and an article thereon about a tilt point substantially coinciding with said center of gravity and between said vertical and said horizontal positions.

2. A handling device for handling a hollow cylindrical article and for tilting the article between a horizontal axis position and a vertical axis position, said device including an arbor adapted to be inserted into the article a distance suflicient to position the center of gravity of the article between the ends of the arbor, a stop positionable along the arbor to control said distance of insertion, and means to tilt said arbor and an article thereon about a tilt point substantially coinciding with said center of gravity and between said vertical and said horizontal positions, said stop including electromagnet means for retaining said article on said arbor when said arbor is in a vertical position.

3. A device for handling a hollow article comprising, an arbor to be inserted in an article, a member supporting said arbor, means coupled to said member for tilting the member and the arbor therewith about a center of tilt, and means on said member and associated with said arbor to control the positioning of an article on the arbor so that the center of gravity of the arbor and an article thereon substantially corresponds with the center of tilt of said arbor.

4. A device for handling a hollow article and tilting the article between a horizontal and a vertical position comprising, an arbor to be inserted in an article, a member supporting said arbor, first means associated with said member for tilting the member and the arbor therewith about a center of tilt, and second means on said member and associated with said arbor to control the positioning of an article on the arbor so that the center of gravity of the arbor and an article thereon substantially corresponds with the center of tilt of said arbor, said second means constituting a magnet capable of retaining the article on the arbor when the arbor is in the vertical position, said member having an arcuate shaped flange on the periphery thereof and said first means including wheels engaging said flange.

5. A device for handling a hollow article comprising, an arbor to be inserted in an article and tilted between a horizontal and a vertical position, a member supporting said arbor, first means coupled to said member for tilting the member and the arbor therewith about a center of tilt, and second means on said member and associated with said arbor to control the positioning of an article on the arbor so that the center of gravity of the arbor and an article thereon substantially corresponds with the center of tilt of said arbor, said second means constituting a magnet capable of retaining the article on the arbor when the arbor extends downward from said member.

6. A material handling device for handling a hollow cylindrical article and tilting the article handled between a horizontal and vertical position, said device comprising, an arcuate member provided with a peripheral flange and peripheral gear teeth, a supporting surface on said member, an article engageable arbor on said member extending parallel with and spaced from said supporting surface, means supporting said member including wheels engaging said flange and a driving gear enmeshed with said gear teeth for tilting said member to tilt the arbor about a tilt point, and a positioning stop slidably supported by said supporting surface and at least partially encircling said arbor to engage an article placed on the arbor and posit.on the article so that the center of gravity of the article and arbor is substantially located at the tilt point.

7. A material handling device for handling a hollow cylindrical article and tilting the article handled between a vertical and a horizontal position, sa.d device comprising, an arbor adapted to be inserted into the arbor opening of an article, means positionable at a desired location along said arbor to control the distance of insertion of the arbor into the article, said arbor and means and an article on said arbor jointly having a center of gravity, an arcuate member supporting said arbor and said means, and tilting means carrying said member and capable of tilting the member and the arbor between a vertical and a horizontal position and about a tilt point substantially coinciding with said center of gravity.

8. A handling device for handling a hollow article and for tilting the article between a horizontal axis position and a vertical axis position, said device comprising a support member, an arbor connected to said support member and away from its connection to said support member presenting a free end for insertion in the article, suspension means supportingly engaging said support member spaced from the latters connection to the arbor and adjustable to tilt said support member and said arbor about a tilt axis in the arbor between the latters connection to said support member and its free end to tilt the article on the arbor between horizontal and vertical axis positions, and means for retaining the article on the arbor in all positions thereof.

9. The handling device of claim 8 wherein said tilt axis substantially coincides with the center of gravity of the mass composed of said support member and said arbor and the article on the arbor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,260 Koch et a1. May 9, 1933 1,908,829 Earl May 16, 1933 2,416,575 Fontaine Feb. 25, 1947 2,064,405 Benetar Dec. 15, 1936 2,514,307 Boyd July 4, 1950 2,630,931 Douglas Mar. 10, 1953 2,695,687 Anderson Nov. 30, 1954 2,703,252 Blackwell Mar. 1, 1955' 2,801,128 Washabaugh July 30, 1957 

